Shloka 13
Śuka’s Manifestation from the Araṇi (Āraṇeya-janma) — शुकजन्म (आरणेय-सम्भव)
राजेन्द्र! आकाश आदि पाँच महाभूतोंमें क्रमश: शब्द, स्पर्श, रूप, रस और गन्ध--ये विशेष गुण हैं ।।
Yājñavalkya uvāca: Rājendra! ākāśādi pañca mahābhūteṣu kramaśaḥ śabdaḥ sparśaḥ rūpaṃ rasaḥ gandhaś ca—ete viśeṣa-guṇāḥ. Yair āviṣṭāni bhūtāni ahany ahani pārthiva, anyonyaṃ spṛhayanti ete anyonyasya hite ratāḥ. Pṛthvīnātha! pravāha-rūpeṇa sadā vidyamāneṣu manohareṣu śabdādi-viṣayeṣv āviṣṭāḥ sarve prāṇinaḥ pratidinaṃ kadācit anyonyaṃ kāṅkṣanti, kadācit paraspara-hita-sādhane tatparā bhavanti, kadācit anyonyaṃ nīcīkartuṃ ceṣṭante, kadācit īrṣyāṃ kurvanti, kadācit parasparaṃ praharanti ca.
Yājñavalkya berkata: “Wahai Raja! Dalam lima mahābhūta yang bermula dari ākāśa, berturut-turut muncul sifat-sifat khas: bunyi, sentuhan, rupa, rasa, dan bau. Wahai penguasa bumi! Terjerat oleh objek-objek indria yang memesona—yang senantiasa hadir laksana arus yang tak putus—makhluk-makhluk setiap hari kadang saling mengingini, kadang giat mengusahakan kebaikan satu sama lain, kadang berupaya merendahkan sesamanya, kadang terbakar iri dan dengki, dan kadang bahkan saling memukul.”
याज़्ञवल्क्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse explains that beings are driven by the specific qualities of the five elements as they appear as sense-objects (sound, touch, form, taste, smell). Captivation by these produces a repeating cycle of attraction and cooperation, but also rivalry, jealousy, and violence—showing why mastery over the senses is central to ethical life and inner peace.
In a didactic dialogue within the Śānti Parva, the sage Yājñavalkya addresses a king and analyzes everyday social behavior. He traces shifting human relations—desire, mutual help, belittling, envy, and aggression—to the constant stream of sensory experience that overwhelms living beings.